SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

DRY LEAF COMPOSTING

PROCESS GUIDE

ADITI DEODHAR
www.brownleaf.org

Contents
About Brown Leaf ................................................................................................................................... 2
Vision................................................................................................................................................... 2
About this document .............................................................................................................................. 3
Scope of the document ........................................................................................................................... 3
Acknowledgement .................................................................................................................................. 4
Why compost .......................................................................................................................................... 5
What happens in natural landscape ................................................................................................... 5
Urban Scenario.................................................................................................................................... 5
How to Compost ................................................................................................................................. 6
Pile Composting .............................................................................................................................. 6
Constructed pits .............................................................................................................................. 7
Baskets/ wire mesh/ container ....................................................................................................... 8
Out of Sight Method ....................................................................................................................... 9
If nothing of the above suits you .................................................................................................... 9
Speeding up the process (if you want) ......................................................................................... 10
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 11

About Brown Leaf

Brown Leaf is a forum for nature-friendly solution for leaf litter.

Vision:
Not a Single Dry Leaf is Burnt in India
Problem:
Around November to March is the time when deciduous trees
shed leaves. A large quantity of leaf litter is generated.
It is often burnt since that seems the most convenient option.
Burning of dry leaves is banned in many countries. It leads to
air pollution. It is a major health as well as fire hazard. The
smoke contains a number of toxic particles and gases.
Burning of dry leaves generates a large quantity of particulates
that can reach deep in lung tissue and cause
Coughing
Wheezing
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Long-term respiratory problems
For the people who suffer from asthma or
other breathing disorder, leaf burning is
extremely hazardous.
Complete burning results in production of
Carbon dioxide, while Carbon monoxide is
released from incomplete burning, such
as with smouldering leaf piles. Carbon
monoxide is absorbed in blood where it
reduces oxygen-carrying capacity of the
Red Blood Cells (RBCs). It also is one of
the greenhouse gases.
Fallen leaves contain 50-80% of the
nutrients that trees extract from the soil
during a growing season. So when we burn dry leaves are burnt, we not only create pollution but also
destroy the valuable nutrients that should go back to the soil.
Solution:
At Brown Leaf, we advise these 3 options, (the one with highest priority listed first)

MULCH
COMPOST
DONATE

In this guide, we discuss composting method. For other two options and for any other details,
please visit www.brownleaf.org
In case of any queries/ feedback/ criticism, feel free to contact us at pune.brownleaf@gmail.com

About this document

The objective of this guide is to detail out the procedure of composting dry leaves. It explains the
usefulness of dry leaves which usually are treated as waste. I have explained the basic procedure and
have also mentioned various options with slight variations.
There is no one way or the best practice when it comes to dry leaf composting. There are many ways
to go about it and you need to choose whatever suits you the best. Depending on the availability of
space and human resource, you can choose the most suitable option. Whatever works for us is our
best practice.
This document is written to encourage and help people to use dry leaves in nature-friendly manner.
If you find it useful, do circulate it so that it reaches more people. This document is available for
download at www.brownleaf.org.

Scope of the document

This document is about dry leaf composting. It does not involve information about any other types of
composting like wet garbage composting, vermi-composting etc.

Acknowledgement
I am grateful to Mr. Aniruddha Deshpande, Mrs. Sujata Naphade, Mr Vinay Kolte, Mr. Bhushan Patil
for reviewing this document. Their inputs and valuable suggestions helped me improve it.
I thank Anuradha Ganu madam for her guidance on pile composting. Visit to her project provided me
the inspiration and confidence that there is a solution to this challenge of leaf litter.
I am thankful to all the people who provided encouragement and extended support in Brown Leaf
initiative.

Why compost
What happens in natural landscape
You might have noticed that I have mentioned composting as the second-best option. We will first
take a brief look at what happens in natural landscape and then we will discuss why mulching is ranked
first, before composting.
In India, deciduous trees shed leaves during winter. Shedding of
leaves helps trees conserve water during the dry season.

Trees that lose all of their

leaves for part of the year
are known as deciduous
trees.

All throughout the summer ground remains covered with dry

leaves. It reduces evaporation and helps soil retain moisture.
Various insects find shelter from the scorching summer heat under these leaves.

When rains arrive, it starts decomposition of the

leaves.
50-80% of the nutrients that a tree extracts from the
soil are present in the fallen leaves. These nutrients
are returned to the soil when the leaves decompose.
It completes the cycle. Through mulching,
Fig: Forest floor during winter

There is no concept of waste in nature. Output of one system serves as input to the other.

Urban Scenario
In urban landscape, this very phenomenon turns out to be a major nightmare. Majority of surfaces are
covered with buildings, roads, footpaths, paver blocks, tiles etc.

Fig: Leaf litter everywhere

There are not sufficient open areas to let the natural process take its course. Even when open areas
are available, it does not fit into our idea and aesthetics to have our gardens, society area being
covered with dry leaves. Thats why we perceive dry leaves as waste and setting fire to them seems
the easiest way to get rid of them.

Mulching involves scattering dry leaves over the soil around the plants. By mulching we mimic the
natural process that we referred to above. It brings in the cyclicity that exists in nature and hence I
have ranked it first. Through mulching, soil regains the nutrients. In case of fruit trees, it is observed
that when leaves of the same tree are used to mulch the area around it, quality of its fruits improves.

How to Compost
Composting is a nature-friendly way of utilizing dry leaves. It follows the principle of soil to soil. The
nutrients that are taken from the soil are returned back to the soil.
Dry leaf composting is very easy and more convenient compared to wet-waste composting. Dry leaves
when decompose do not emit odour or attract flies. It does not require much maintenance.
As we mentioned above, there is no one way of composting dry leaves. I will explain a few methods
here. You can choose the one that best suits you. Beauty of this is there is no way you can go wrong.
If conditions that are conducive for composting are met, you will have nice compost for your soil. If
not, still all you have would be dry leaves that you started with

Pile Composting
Create rectangular piles of dry leaves if you have a large quantity of dry leaves and sufficient open
area available.

Fig: Pile composting

Height of the pile can be 3 to 3.5 feet. Length can be anything, as per the availability of the open area.

Start with one pile. Keep adding dry leaves to it. You can add some source of nitrogen after each layer
if you wish to speed up the process. It is discussed in detail in the section Speeding up the process
below.
When pile reaches the said height, start with the next pile. Width of the pile should not be more than
4 to 4.5 feet. A person should be able to remove the ready compost without much difficulty. If pile is
too wide, then it would be inconvenient.
Pile should be watered regularly. The quantity of the water should be just enough to wet the leaves.
When you water the plants, at that time you can water the pile as well. Composting is fast when pile
gets enough moisture and oxygen.
If you miss watering it someday, no problem. If there is a scarcity of water in the summer, you can skip
watering the pile. It will just slow down the composting process, but no harm will come to it.
Once monsoon starts, it will take care of everything. If there is a gap in the rains, only then you would
need to water the pile. After 2-3 months, remove a portion of the upper layer to check the status. The
lowest layer, being the oldest would decompose the most. If compost is ready in the lower layer,
remove the upper layer in the empty area between the piles, take out the compost. Hence the distance
between the two piles should be such that a person would be able to stand comfortably while
removing compost from the pile.
The ready compost will not have any intact leaf forms. It will be quite homogenous, dark mass.
Instead of pile, you can have a heap. The diameter should be such that you should be able to reach
the central part comfortably. Also if heap is too large, all the parts dont get sufficient water and it
might reduce the speed of decomposition.

Constructed pits
Many apartments have compost pits provided by the builder. In case your apartment has this facility,
I would suggest utilize it and go for kitchen-waste composting, if you are not already doing it. But in
case you dont intend to and pits are vacant, you can utilize them for dry leaf composting.
First thing you need to ensure is there is a water outlet. If the pits are constructed for composting,
they anyway will have an outlet. If outlet is there, ensure it is not clogged. If it is not there, you will
have to make one. At any time, water logging should not happen.
In rainy season, if these pits do not have roof, you will have to cover them with a tarp or some such
material. In case of pile composting this is not necessary since there is open soil beneath and whatever
rain falls gets absorbed.
Keep adding dry leaves. Water the pit regularly. You can add some source of nitrogen after each layer
if you wish to speed up the process. It is discussed in detail in the section Speeding up the process
below.
The ready compost will not have any intact leaf forms. It will be quite homogenous, dark mass.

Baskets/ wire mesh/ container

If space is the problem, composting can be done using some container. I personally would suggest
bamboo baskets since they are biodegradable. Once they degenerate, simply deposit them in your
compost pit. Good quality baskets will last about 2-3 years. Use a tall basket, something like this in the
figure below.

Fig: Bamboo basket (courtesy google images)

A plastic laundry basket can also be used. If you already have such a basket, even if it is slightly broken
or damaged, no issue. Use it by all means.

Fig: Laundry Basket (courtesy google images)

A structure made of wire mesh can also be used. Below is the figure to provide you the rough idea.

Fig: Container made of wire mesh (courtesy pinterest.com)

Fig: Temporary wire mesh enclosures (courtesy google images)

Container can be just about anything. The requirement is that it should be porous so as to allow
aeration. Keep adding dry leaves. Water the pit regularly. You can add some source of nitrogen after
each layer if you wish to speed up the process. It is discussed in detail in the section Speeding up the
process below.
After 3 months, remove the upper layer. The compost would be ready in the lower i.e. the oldest layer.
The ready compost will not have any intact leaf forms. It will be quite homogenous, dark mass.

Out of Sight Method

Dig a ditch large enough to accommodate quantity of leaves you have. Dump leaves in it and cover
the whole thing with a layer of soil. Decomposition will happen anyway and nutrients from the leaves
will be returned to the soil.

If nothing of the above suits you

I suggest you start with any of the methods mentioned above. Once you try it, you will understand
what works for you and what does not. You can customize the method to suit you the best.
But if you still feel you do not want to get into it, here is what you can do.

You can donate your dry leaves to somebody who wants them. For details, refer to
http://www.brownleaf.org/i-have-leaf-litter

Speeding up the process (only if you want)

The fact about compost is that we can neither start it nor we can stop it.
Even if we dont do anything, it will anyway happen. But if you want to speed up the process, then
there are a few tricks.
Crushing the leaves
If leaves are crushed, decomposition will be faster. It will also reduce the volume considerably and a
large amount of leaves would be utilized in a pile/pit/container. But a word of caution here. When
leaves are broken down by us and not by natural process, then there can be some impact on the
quality of the compost.
Adding Nitrogen
Dry leaves contain carbon. For faster composting, carbon as well as nitrogen is needed. If you add
nitrogen to the dry leaves, it will speed up the process. There are a few products available in market
like Compost Culture by Inora (Pune). Urea is also used for this purpose. But prolonged use of urea is
hazardous to our health, our soils and waters health. Hence I will not advise use of urea.
Cow urine is a source of nitrogen. If you have a source of cow urine, you can utilize it.

In fact, urine is a source of

nitrogen. Some people use
human urine as well for this
purpose and believe me I am not
kidding.
It in fact more
eco-friendly option

Some sites advise churning the layers. But it is really not necessary.
You can employ any of the above options. I suggest you keep it as simple as possible. If you are in no
hurry, dont do anything other than watering it. And just relax. Let nature take its own course. By next
winter, when trees start shedding leaves again, you will have your compost ready.

Conclusion
I received a lot of queries at Brown Leaf regarding composting. Hence this guide. I hope I have covered
all the points. Feel free to share your feedback/ comments. Critique is most welcome. It will help me
improve the guide. My objective is to make this guide simple yet exhaustive. Your feedback will help
me achieve this objective. You can write to pune.brownleaf@gmail.com

MULCH COMPOST DONATE

DONT BURN DRY LEAVES
NOT A SINGLE DRY LEAF IS BURNT IN INDIA
THATS THE VISION